The Widows and Orphans Development Foundation (WODF) was established in November 2020 in the Netherlands with the aim of empowering the disadvantaged widows and underprivileged orphans socially and economically in Tanzania. The founder of the organization Jamila Sulu is a lawyer and a human rights practitioner with extensive knowledge and experience in international human rights law. As a mother o
f four, she herself became a widow at the age of 38 in Tanzania whereby she lived in widowhood for seven years after which she remarried and relocated to the Netherlands where she currently lives. Vision
WODF envisions a society in which widows and orphans achieve freedom from poverty, live in dignity, enjoy human rights and realize their full potential thereby contributing actively to personal, family, community, national and international development. Mission
Improving the lives of widows and orphans through economic and social empowerment, access to basic needs, advocating for their human rights, and undertaking sustainable solutions to build resilience amongst them. Objectives of WODF
1. To empower widows and destitute women economically by equipping them with entrepreneurship skills, and where possible, providing them with necessary resources to enable them pursue income-generating activities.
2. To mobilize financial and material support to enable orphans and destitute children living in extreme poverty to access basic needs such as food, water, clothing, health care, shelter, and school supplies to facilitate their right to education and their overall wellbeing.
3. To conduct research on issues affecting widows and advocate against harmful cultural practices, discrimination, and other prejudices that sustain injustice against widows.
4. To create awareness on human rights, gender-based violence and promote the principle of non-discrimination to ensure inclusive society.
5. To advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights of widows and adolescents and facilitating access to health care.
6. To create platforms for widows’ peer-to-peer encouragement and inspiration as well as emotional, spiritual, and social support to rebuild their lives with a renewed positive perspective.
7. To collaborate with other organizations in advocating for policy and legal reforms with a view of promoting the rights of widows and orphans.
